Official Rules – World Tapas Competition UK Heats

1. The “Sociedad Mixta para la Promoción del Turismo de Valladolid, S.L.” (SMTVA), announces the 1st UK Heats of the World Tapas Competition, open to active professionals over 20 years old from foodservice operators in UK hospitality establishments.

2. Each participant may present a single, unpublished Tapa, detailing the ingredients and preparation.

3. To ensure equal competition, the cost of the ingredients for the recipe should not exceed £1.60 per unit. Since the participant does not have access to market prices in Spain, the selection committee will contact participants if the recipe's cost is deemed too high.

4. Entries close 30th May 2025.

5. A jury of professional chefs, the championship’s technical management and SMTVA will select up to 12 finalists and 2 reserves from the submitted entries to participate in the UK Heats.

6. Participants must adhere to the rules and schedule of the competition.

7. During the competition each participant has 25 minutes to prepare up to 5 identical tapas for the judges and media photography.

8. The schedule is strict. Late delivery of the Tapa will incur a 2-point penalty per minute, with disqualification after 5 minutes. A competition invigilator will monitor the timings and report any overruns to the technical director and jury president.

9. The jury will evaluate based on Flavour (40 points), Originality (30 points), Presentation (20 points), and Commercial Application (10 points).

10. The president of the jury president, technical director, observer, and secretary will privately tally scores. The secretary will record and sign the results.

11. The president of the jury has the deciding vote in case of ties. The decision is final.

12. The points will determine the ranking for the winner and runner up:

First Prize:
The winner will be invited to Valladolid to compete in the finals of the World Tapas Competition. The trip will run from November 10th to 13th, with accommodation provided for three nights. Travel expenses will be covered by the competition and coordinated by its technical management team. The trip will also feature a guided tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital.

Runner-Up:
The runner-up will also attend the trip to Valladolid but will NOT compete in the finals of the World Tapas Competition. The trip will run from November 10th to 13th, with accommodation provided for three nights. The itinerary includes a guided tour of Madrid. 

(Additional awards may be granted at the jury's discretion)

13. Participants must engage with the media and promote the contest via social media and specialised press.

14. Registration for the 1st UK Tapas Competition implies knowledge and acceptance of these rules.